Findings from the A LIST APART Survey, 2008

As we did in 2007, A List Apart and you teamed up to shed light on precisely who creates websites. Where do we live? What kind of work do we do? What are our job titles? How well or how poorly are we paid? How satisfied are we, and where do we see ourselves going?

In 2008, 30,055 readers took part in the A List Apart Survey. Once more, data analysts Alan Brickman and Larry Yu crunched numbers this way and that. With a global recession in full swing as of December 2007, we were particularly interested to find out how financially and professionally secure web people felt, and whether there were discernible differences in the way people responded to questions about satisfaction and security in 2008, compared with 2007. This year we also improved our fact-finding on freelance and part-time web personnel.

The more things change

For 2008, instead of a downloadable (PDF) white paper, we decided to present our findings on the web. Which meant, in addition to compiling and analyzing data and reporting our findings with words and charts, we had to design a website and convert XHTML table data into clear and beauteous charts, via the magic of advanced CSS. ALA’s Jason Santa Maria designed the website. Eric A. Meyer visualized the charts and crafted the mind-bending CSS that brought them to life. (Geeks, view source and enjoy.) Others who worked on these findings include editor Krista Stevens and publisher Jeffrey Zeldman.

We present each table twice: once with the raw numbers, and once with the corresponding percentages. The total responses may differ from table to table because the statisticians omitted blanks to compute percentages.

This report describes our findings, including, wherever possible, any major changes from 2007—the first year we conducted the survey. In many cases, direct year-to-year comparisons are impossible because categories, ranges, and other choices are different from 2007. Put simply, your feedback about the questions from 2007, along with the advice of our consultants, led us to update many of the questions and categories; these changes improved the quality of the survey, but prevent some direct year-to-year comparisons.

Analyses contained in this report should be considered primarily descriptive; no attempt was made to assess causality among survey variables. In plain English, be careful not to extrapolate the observations that follow into predictive or causal relationships.

Who are you?

Come here often? What’s your sign?

Respondents were asked basic questions about age, gender, job title, and so on.

Fig. i Age

18 and under	1.7%
19-29	51.5%
30-44	40.3%
45-64	6.3%
65 and over	0.2%

Percentages are based on 29,940 responses to this question (98.1% of all respondents).

The age ranges were different in this year’s survey, so a one-to-one comparison is difficult. The vast majority of respondents, as last year, are in their 20s, 30s, and 40s.

Fig. ii Gender

Male	83.8%
Female	16.2%

Percentages are based on 29,567 responses to this question (98.4% of all respondents).

The respondents are overwhelmingly male, similar to last year.

Fig. iii Ethnicity

White / Caucasian	84.7%
Asian / Pacific Rim	6.2%
Hispanic / Latino	4.2%
Black / African	1.2%
Indigenous / Native	0.3%
Other	3.4%

Percentages are based on 29,655 responses to this question (98.7% of all respondents).

The respondents are overwhelmingly white, but with a slightly higher percentage of Hispanic respondents compared to 2007.

Fig. iv Job title

Developer	27.8%
Web Designer	12.7%
Designer	8.4%
Webmaster, Web Master	4.4%
Project Manager	3.7%
Interface Designer, UI Designer	3.2%
Creative Director	3.0%
Art Director	1.9%
Web Producer	1.8%
Information Architect	1.6%
Web Director	1.6%
Writer, Editor	1.2%
Usability Expert/Consultant/Lead	1.0%
Marketer	0.9%
Educator	0.5%
Accessibility Expert/Consultant/Lead	0.2%
Other	26.0%

Percentages are based on 29,685 responses to this question (98.8% of all respondents).

A range similar to last year’s, but with a much higher percentage of people indicating “Other” (26.0% compared to 15.7%).

Fig. v Geographic region

North and Central America	55.0%
Europe	33.2%
Oceania	5.3%
Asia	3.9%
South America	1.9%
Africa	0.7%
Antarctica	0.0%

Percentages are based on 29,882 responses to this question (99.4% of all respondents).

We changed the categories in 2008. North and Central America and Europe account for almost 90% of the responses, and there is slightly more diversity than last year, with increased percentages from Asia, South America, and Oceania. Within North and Central America, 88% of respondents are from the United States. There were nine respondents who claimed to be located in Antarctica.

Fig. vi Top 20 responding countries

United States of America	48.3%
United Kingdom of Great Britain & Northern Ireland	10.8%
Canada	5.3%
Australia, Commonwealth of	4.0%
Germany, Federal Republic of	3.1%
Netherlands, Kingdom of the	2.7%
France, French Republic	1.4%
Italy, Italian Republic	1.3%
Sweden, Kingdom of	1.3%
New Zealand	1.2%
Finland, Republic of	1.2%
India, Republic of	1.1%
Belgium, Kingdom of	1.0%
Spain, Kingdom of	1.0%
Norway, Kingdom of	0.9%
Denmark, Kingdom of	0.9%
Poland, Republic of	0.8%
Romania	0.8%
Brazil, Federative Republic of	0.7%
Ireland	0.7%

There were responses from 157 countries in total. The top 20 countries listed here represent 88.6% of all responses.

Education and commitment

Fig. vii Education

Grade/primary school	1.1%
High/secondary school	9.4%
Some college or university	21.7%
College diploma, associate's, bachelor's, or other degree	53.2%
Master's degree	13.5%
Doctorate	1.1%

Percentages are based on 29,887 responses to this question (99.4% of all respondents).

We changed the categories in 2008. A greater percentage of respondents in 2008 reported they had at least some college.

Fig. viii How much have your academic studies helped you in your work as a web designer/developer?

Not at all	19.1%
A little	29.3%
Some	35.2%
A lot	16.4%

Percentages are based on 29,879 responses to this question (99.4% of all respondents).

As last year, those of you who say your education has at least some relevance represent just over 50%.

Fig. ix Do you find web design to be an exciting profession?

No	1.6%
Yes - once in a while	19.2%
Yes - frequently	44.1%
Yes - very frequently	34.1%
Don't know	1.0%

Percentages are based on 29,796 responses to this question (99.1% of all respondents).

The answers are very similar to last year’s: people are, in general, frequently excited by their web work.

Fig. x Have a personal site/blog

Yes	71.9%
No	28.1%

Percentages are based on 29,860 responses to this question (99.4% of all respondents).

Again, over 70% of respondents have blogs. The scales for the number of years were different in the two surveys, so comparisons are a bit tricky, but it appears that this year’s respondents have been blogging longer than last year’s, with over a third blogging for five years or more.

Fig. xi Time personal site/blog online

Less than a year	10.7%
1 year	8.2%
2 years	12.5%
3 years	12.1%
4 years	10.4%
5 years	10.6%
6 years	6.7%
7 years	5.5%
8 years	6.4%
9 years	3.2%
10 years (or more)	13.8%

Percentages are based on 21,483 respondents who indicated they have a blog (71.9% of all respondents to the question).

It’s a workaday world

Fig. xii Type of organization

Partner in a large company or organization	1.9%
Partner in a small business	8.0%
Employee of a company, university, library, museum, nonprofit, or other organization	56.4%
Independent contractor/freelancer or owner of small business	26.2%
Student, hobbyist, volunteer, or other uncompensated role	7.5%

Percentages are based on 29,992 responses to this question (99.8% of all respondents).

The categories are different from the 2007 survey. Over half of the respondents do their web work as an employee, and just over a quarter do it as a freelancer—slightly more than in 2007.

Fig. xiii Organization size

Self-employed / freelance	21.5%
2-5 employees	12.1%
6-10 employees	8.7%
11-25 employees	11.6%
26-50 employees	9.2%
51-300 employees	15.1%
301-750 employees	5.5%
751-3000 employees	6.1%
More than 3000 employees	10.1%

Percentages are based on 27,744 responses to this question (92.3% of all respondents).

The responses are quite comparable to last year. The differences may derive from the fact that a greater percentage of people said they were “self-employed/freelance.”

Fig. xiv Hours worked per week

Less than 20 hours	6.8%
20-29 hours	6.5%
30-39 hours	19.6%
40-49 hours	47.9%
50-59 hours	12.6%
60 hours or more	6.6%

Percentages are based on 29,950 responses to this question (99.7% of all respondents).

The answers are comparable to last year, but in general, respondents are working more this year. Fewer respondents reported working less than 20 hours (6.8% compared to 8.3%), and a greater percentage reported working over 40 hours (67.1% compared to 60.8%).

Fig. xv Years in the field

Less than a year	5.1%
1 year	5.8%
2 years	11.0%
3 years	11.0%
4 years	8.8%
5 years	9.3%
6 years	5.9%
7 years	5.9%
8 years	9.0%
9 years	5.1%
10 years (or more)	19.6%
Not applicable	3.7%

Percentages are based on 29,941 responses to this question (99.6% of all respondents).

Although the question was structured differently in 2008, the responses appear comparable. This year’s respondents seem to have more experience. This year, there were fewer people with three years or less experience (21.9% to 33.5%), and more people with ten years or more experience (19.6% to 9.0%).

Fig. xvi Degree of web work

All or nearly all of my work is web-related	53.9%
Most of my work is web-related	25.9%
About half my work is web-related	10.7%
Around a quarter of my work is web-related	4.6%
Web-related work is a small part of what I do	4.2%
I don't do any web-related work	0.6%

Percentages are based on 29,900 responses to this question (99.5% of all respondents).

This year’s respondents appear much more involved in web work than last year’s. Among this year’s respondents, almost 80% indicate that all or most of their time is spent on web work, as opposed to just over half last year. This year, only 4.2% said that web design was a small part of what they do, as opposed to 16.5% last year.

Fig. xvii Years at current job

Less than a year	26.4%
1 year	17.3%
2 years	19.8%
3 years	10.9%
4 years	6.4%
5 years	4.4%
6 years	2.8%
7 years	2.5%
8 years	2.9%
9 years	1.5%
10 years (or more)	4.4%
Not applicable	0.5%

Percentages are based on 19,880 responses to this question (66.1% of all respondents).

This question was only for partners and/or employees (what we call “corporates” in this report). Although the question was structured differently in 2007, the responses are fairly comparable.

Fig. xviii Number of years freelancing

Less than a year	10.8%
1 year	9.5%
2 years	14.1%
3 years	11.3%
4 years	8.5%
5 years	8.4%
6 years	5.2%
7 years	3.7%
8 years	4.1%
9 years	1.7%
10 years (or more)	11.5%
Not applicable	11.2%

Percentages are based on 10,077 responses to this question (33.5% of all respondents).

This was only asked of the freelancers, and was not asked last year. The responses are quite evenly distributed, with the two largest being “2 years” and “10 years (or more)”.

Fig. xix Next career move

Get a promotion at my current job	16.0%
New job in a new organization	14.0%
Start my own business	13.1%
Stay where I am	12.9%
Learn a new skill	12.5%
Start pitching a better class of client	7.7%
Change my area of specialization (for instance, from design to development)	5.2%
Attend a conference/take classes/other educational activity	3.1%
Find a partner whose skills complement mine	3.1%
Begin (or expand) my professional writing or speaking	2.7%
Get my first job in the field	2.0%
Leave the profession	1.9%
Other	5.9%

Percentages are based on 29,703 responses to this question (98.8% of all respondents).

We changed the question this year to include many more options.

Fig. xx Paid vacation

Less than 6 days	3.0%
6-10 days	12.3%
11-15 days	24.3%
16-20 days	19.9%
21-25 days	20.9%
More than 25 days	12.7%
Not applicable	6.8%

Percentages are based on 19,772 responses to this question (65.8% of all respondents).

Because the survey was restructured in 2008 so that this question was asked only of “corporates,” there is a lower percentage of “not applicable” responses than last year, and higher percentages in many of the other categories. Otherwise the responses are fairly comparable.

Fig. xxi Paid holidays

0 days	6.0%
1-3 days	4.4%
4-8 days	49.8%
9-11 days	24.1%
11-13 days	7.1%
13-15 days	3.8%
More than 15 days	4.7%

Percentages are based on 19,741 responses to this question (65.7% of all respondents).

See comment on vacation days above.

Money, honey

Fig. xxii Salary

Less than $10,000	13.7%
$10,000-$19,999	8.2%
$20,000-$39,999	17.5%
$40,000-$59,999	24.5%
$60,000-$79,999	17.7%
$80,000-$99,999	9.3%
$100,000-$119,999	4.5%
$120,000-$149,999	2.7%
More than $150,000	1.9%

Percentages are based on 29,367 responses to this question (97.7% of all respondents).

Respondents reported a wide spread in salaries. In general, the 2008 respondents seem to make more than the 2007 respondents, based on higher percentages in the upper income categories. This may reflect people working a greater number of hours (see table XIV). There are several ways we can quantify earnings across a segment of the sample, for comparison purposes:

1. Compute a weighted average using the midpoints of the ranges (and $175,000 for the over $150,000 category).
2. Compute the percentage of a segment making over $100,000 or under $40,000.
3. Identify the category in which the respondent in the middle of the sample falls, to find a rough median.

None is perfect (the weighted average tempts one to regard it as an actual average, which it is not; the over $100,000/under $40,000 segment is only a partial picture; and the median is too broad and misses significant differences), but all are useful. For future reference in the report, the entire sample quantifies as follows:

• Weighted average: $52,095
• Percentage over $100,000: 9.1%
• Percentage under $40,000: 39.4%
• Median range: $40,000-$59,999

We will most often use the weighted average for comparisons.

Fig. xxiii Amount of last raise

My salary decreased	1.5%
1-5%	31.6%
6-10%	18.0%
11-15%	8.0%
16-20%	5.3%
21-25%	3.4%
26-30%	1.6%
31-35%	1.2%
36-40%	0.7%
41-45%	0.4%
46-50%	0.8%
51-75%	0.8%
76-100%	0.4%
More than 100%	0.5%
Not applicable	25.7%

Percentages are based on 19,712 responses to this question (65.6% of all respondents).

The responses are very comparable with last year’s, approximately one third at 5% or less, and approximately half at 10% or less.

Fig. xxiv Time since last raise

Not applicable	24.5%
0-3 months ago	22.8%
3-6 months ago	17.6%
6-9 months ago	14.3%
9-12 months ago	7.4%
1 year ago	9.2%
2 years ago	3.1%
3 years ago	0.7%
4 years ago	0.2%
5 or more years ago	0.3%

Percentages are based on 19,668 responses to this question (65.4% of all respondents).

Over 70% of the 2008 respondents said they received a raise in the last year, as opposed to almost 90% in the 2007 survey.

Perceived biases

NOTE: We used the percentage of respondents who said either “definitely yes” or “cautiously yes” to compare perceptions of bias.

Fig. xxv Perceived age bias

Definitely not	39.5%
Probably not	32.4%
Maybe	14.4%
Cautiously yes	8.9%
Definitely yes	4.8%

Percentages are based on 29,613 responses to this question (98.5% of all respondents).

Of respondents, 13.7% say definitely or cautiously yes, slightly lower than last year.

Fig. xxvi Perceived gender bias

Definitely not	68.6%
Probably not	22.1%
Maybe	5.4%
Cautiously yes	2.7%
Definitely yes	1.3%

Percentages are based on 29,541 responses to this question (98.3% of all respondents).

Of respondents, 4.0% say definitely or cautiously yes, slightly lower than last year.

Fig. xxvii Perceived ethnic bias

Definitely not	74.7%
Probably not	19.4%
Maybe	3.9%
Cautiously yes	1.3%
Definitely yes	0.7%

Percentages are based on 29,553 responses to this question (98.3% of all respondents).

Of respondents, 2.0% say definitely or cautiously yes, slightly lower than last year.

Fig. xxviii Perceived geographic bias

Definitely not	27.0%
Probably not	27.3%
Maybe	21.0%
Cautiously yes	13.6%
Definitely yes	11.2%

Percentages are based on 29,687 responses to this question (98.8% of all respondents).

Approximately 25% say definitely or cautiously yes, slightly lower than last year.

Fig. xxix Perceived disability bias

Definitely not	17.2%
Probably not	6.9%
Maybe	3.3%
Cautiously yes	1.3%
Definitely yes	0.8%
Not applicable	70.5%

Percentages are based on 29,599 responses to this question (98.5% of all respondents).

Of respondents, 2.1% say definitely or cautiously yes. (We did not ask this question last year.)